Contents:

• Benefits of canned vegetables and fruit
• What should you look for when buying canned vegetables?

For centuries, people have tried various ways to extend the shelf life of food. Proper nutrition, stockpiling, and preparing food for the long winter period ensured survival during difficult times. They also learned how to smoke, dry, refrigerate, and freeze. In the 19th century, thanks to Nicholas Appert, appertization appeared: cooked food stored in hermetically sealed jars. Today, this method has evolved, and store shelves are full of vegetables and fruits sealed in metal cans. However, many people fear that they contain harmful compounds and that the products contained in cans are worthless, processed, and devoid of vitamins. However, this is not entirely true; if we buy good canned goods, we get a delicious and healthy meal. Let's look at the benefits of canned vegetables and fruits.

Benefits of canned vegetables and fruit

One of the most striking advantages of canned vegetables and fruit is undoubtedly their long shelf life. The second problem is that canned goods rarely spoil (although if they do, it's very easy to notice—the can bulges). This isn't the only advantage of choosing them. The advantage of canned goods is that, contrary to appearances, they are often more valuable than fresh vegetables available in supermarkets. This is because fruit and vegetables intended for canning are harvested during their prime growth phase and quickly preserved. This prevents them from losing their valuable nutritional values. In addition, air is removed from the cans, preventing the enzymes contained in fresh produce from being activated and released from the can. The time between harvesting and canning is short—certainly much shorter than the time required to transport vegetables and fruit from, for example, Africa. Vegetables and fruit imported into supermarkets are filled with more preservatives. Processing certain vegetables, especially tomatoes and corn, can increase their antioxidant content. Canned tomatoes purchased in winter may contain more vitamins and minerals than fresh ones.

According to a 2012 study by the Society of Chemicals, canned foods were found to contain the most minerals and nutrients. The levels of folic acid , carotenoids, phenols, and vitamins A , C, and E were compared, and the nutritional value of canned peaches was found to be comparable to that of fresh fruit, although canned peaches were found to retain more vitamin C.

What should you look for when buying canned vegetables?

If you want to enjoy healthy, high-quality canned vegetables and fruit, it's important to pay attention to the ingredients on the packaging. Avoid products that contain artificial colors and preservatives, and that contain water and salt in addition to selected vegetables or fruit.

It is worth choosing canned vegetables and fruits when there is no season for their fresh counterparts, and the products imported from other continents often have no taste and aroma and at the same time are full of preservatives.